Passport Photo Cost 2026: CVS vs Walgreens vs Walmart vs Costco vs Home
The cheapest way to get a U.S. passport photo in 2026 is the 4×6 print hack at Walmart — about $0.16 for a pair. The most expensive walk-in service is CVS at $17.99. Below: every option ranked, the math, and the FAQs.
All 2026 options ranked
Sorted from cheapest to most expensive, including walk-in service prices and the self-formatted 4×6 print hack. Click any chain for the full guide.
| Where | Service price | 4×6 print hack | Walk-in | Available 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Print at Home | $0.40 | $0.40 | Yes | Yes |
| Walmart | $7.64 | $0.16 | Yes | Yes |
| FedEx Office | $15.95 | $0.49 | Yes | Yes |
| USPS Post Office | $15.00 | — | By appt | Yes |
| CVS | $17.99 | $0.39 | Yes | Yes |
| Walgreens | $16.99 | $0.38 | Yes | Yes |
| Costco | Discontinued | — | — | No |
Service price = standard passport-photo service. 4×6 hack = print a self-formatted 4×6 photo and cut out the 2×2. Prices are 2026 retail and may vary by location.
Cheapest
$0.16
4×6 hack at Walmart. Same prints, no service fee.
Cheapest walk-in
$7.64
Walmart standard service, taken by an associate.
Most expensive
$17.99
CVS standard service (digital copy +$3.99).
Standard walk-in service: how each chain compares
Walmart — $7.64
Cheapest national walk-in. Two 2×2 prints, no digital copy. Walk-in, no appointment. Full Walmart guide →
FedEx Office — $15.95
Walk-in. Choose printed photos or a digital copy at the same price tier — they're not bundled together in the standard service.
USPS — $15.00
Available only at participating post offices that handle passport applications, by appointment. Convenient if you're already there to submit your application.
Walgreens — $16.99
Includes a free digital copy via email with the standard service — the only major chain that bundles it. Walk-in, no appointment. Full Walgreens guide →
CVS — $17.99
Most ubiquitous walk-in option. Two prints. Digital copy via email available as a $3.99 add-on (USB option $10.99). Compliance guarantee. Full CVS guide →
Costco — Closed
Photo centers permanently closed in 2021. The old $4.99 service no longer exists. Full Costco update →
The 4×6 print hack (under $0.50 anywhere)
The cheapest way to print a passport photo in 2026 is to bypass the "passport photo" service entirely. Format two 2×2 photos onto a single 4×6 sheet yourself, then order it as a standard 4×6 print at any photo lab. The fee gap is purely the labor of the associate taking the shot.
Step-by-step (under $0.50, 15 minutes):
- Take a photo against a plain wall in good light.
- Upload to the free passport photo maker.
- Download the 4×6 print layout.
- Order a standard 4×6 glossy print at Walmart ($0.16), CVS ($0.39), or Walgreens ($0.38).
- Cut along the crop marks. Done.
Should you print at home instead?
Home printing costs about $0.40 per pair if you already own a photo printer (paper + ink). That makes home cheaper than every walk-in service but slightly more than the Walmart 4×6 hack. The advantage is privacy and convenience — the photo never leaves your computer, and you don't need to drive anywhere.
See the print at home guide for printer settings, paper choice, and the 1mm scaling pitfall that causes most home prints to get rejected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the cheapest place to get passport photos in 2026?
The cheapest national chain for walk-in passport photos in 2026 is Walmart at $7.64 for two prints. Cheaper still: format the photo yourself with a free tool and order a standard 4×6 print at Walmart for $0.16. Printing at home costs roughly $0.40 if you already own a photo printer.
How much do passport photos cost at CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart?
In 2026: CVS charges $17.99, Walgreens charges $16.99, and Walmart charges $7.64. All three include two 2×2 inch prints. Walmart is consistently the cheapest national chain. Costco no longer offers passport photos as of 2021.
Why is Walmart cheaper than CVS or Walgreens for passport photos?
Walmart's pricing strategy is to undercut competitors across most product categories, and passport photos follow that pattern. The actual print quality, paper, and process are equivalent — same dye-sublimation printers, same glossy photo paper. The price gap is positioning, not quality.
Where is the fastest place to get passport photos?
Pharmacy chains (CVS, Walgreens) are typically fastest end-to-end at 5–10 minutes for walk-ins. Walmart Photo Centers are similar. USPS requires an appointment so is slower. Home printing is fastest if you already have everything ready, but you have to drive to drop off the application anyway, so the time savings are smaller than they seem.
Can I save money by printing passport photos at home?
Yes if you already own a photo printer. Cost works out to roughly $0.40 for paper and ink. If you have to buy a printer specifically for one passport photo, no — Walmart at $7.64 is much cheaper than a $80 printer. Home printing is most economical for households who travel often or have multiple passport renewals.
Does Costco still offer passport photos?
No. Costco permanently closed all in-store photo centers in 2021. The historical $4.99 Costco passport photo is no longer available. Costco transitioned online photo orders to Shutterfly in 2023, and Shutterfly does not offer compliant passport photo printing.
Are pharmacy passport photos worth it over home printing?
Worth it if: you don't own a photo printer, you need the State Department compliance guarantee, or you don't want to deal with printer scaling issues. Not worth it if: you have a photo printer at home, or you just need to print a self-formatted 4×6 cheaply (use Walmart's $0.16 print instead of the $7.64 service).
What is the 4×6 print hack and does it work everywhere?
The 4×6 print hack: format two 2×2 passport photos onto a single 4×6 layout yourself, then order a standard 4×6 photo print (not the "passport photo" service). Works at every major chain — CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, FedEx Office, and any photo lab that prints 4×6. It works because the State Department's only requirements are size, paper, and image compliance — all of which are met by a self-formatted 4×6 print.
Where can I get a digital copy of my passport photo?
Walgreens includes a free digital copy via email with the standard $16.99 service — the only major chain that bundles it. CVS sells one as a $3.99 add-on (or $10.99 on a Kodak USB). Walmart and USPS don't offer a digital copy at all. The fastest path: format the photo yourself with a free online tool — you have the digital file the moment you finish, and you can also print it for cheap.
Sources
Skip the $17.99 fee.
Format your photo free, print as a 4×6 for $0.16 at Walmart.